Effect of External Ear Deformity on Hearing in Wrestlers.

PURPOSE: Cauliflower ear in wrestlers can lead to hearing impairment. This study primarily aims to assess the hearing of wrestlers with bilateral cauliflower ears and determine their external ear canal (EEC) resonance frequencies. Our second aim is to evaluate their hearing quality, speech, and spatial perception. METHOD: This study included 28 male wrestlers aged 18-35 years with bilateral cauliflower ears, as well as 27 male participants in the control group with no wrestling history. The participants' hearing thresholds were determined across the frequency range of 125-16000 Hz for air-conduction and 500-4000 Hz for bone conduction. EEC resonance frequencies were measured. Additionally, all participants completed the Turkish version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) questionnaire. RESULTS: Wrestlers with cauliflower ears exhibited significantly higher hearing thresholds, particularly at frequencies above 4000 Hz (p < .05). Analysis of EEC resonance showed a shift to higher frequencies in the second resonance peak of the right ear (p < .001) and the first resonance peak of the left ear (p = .045). SSQ scores revealed that wrestlers had higher spatial perception (p = .046), hearing quality (p = .004), and general scores (p = .042) in comparison to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Blunt traumas in wrestlers, leading to cauliflower ear, can result in hearing loss. Moreover, deformities in the external ear affect the resonance frequencies of the EEC. Therefore, it is crucial to advocate for the use of ear protection equipment among wrestlers. When fitting hearing aids, attention should be given to changes in the EEC resonance frequency.

Family Resilience in Primary Caregivers of Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate family resilience-defined as the capacity of a family to harness its collective strengths and resources to recover from and adapt to significant adversities or crises effectively-in primary caregivers of children who are deaf and hard of hearing (cDHH) and its association with quality of life, life satisfaction, perceived social support, and loneliness. METHOD: The study involved 108 primary caregivers of cDHH and 139 primary caregivers of children with normal hearing. Participants underwent psychometric evaluations including the Family Resilience Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-Brief Form, Satisfaction with Life Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in almost every scale and its subdimension between the two groups (p < .05). Correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between all scale total scores for both groups (p < .05, .153 < | r | < .737). Quality of life was found to be a significant predictor of family resilience, F(1, 139) = 41.824, R2 = .279, B = 0.495, t = 6.467, p < .001. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the significant impact of having cDHH on caregivers' family resilience, quality of life, life satisfaction, feelings of loneliness, and perceived social support. The results underscore the importance of enhancing caregivers' quality of life as a potential strategy to improve their family resilience. Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay of factors influencing these outcomes.

Reduced Tolerance for Risky Play in Primary Caregivers of Children With Hearing Loss.

PURPOSE: It is known that taking appropriate risks during play is crucial for the development of a child's creativity, problem-solving abilities, resilience, self-confidence, and skills in evaluating risky situations. However, communication problems resulting from hearing loss (HL) can affect a child's ability to hear danger and warning signals during play, potentially leading to injury. This study investigates the attitudes of parents or caregivers with children with HL toward risky play. METHOD: The study included 170 caregivers of children with normal hearing (NH; n = 103) and cochlear implant and/or hearing aids users (n = 67) aged 3-13 years. The primary caregiver completed the Tolerance for Risk in Play Scale (TRIPS), and the caregivers of children with HL also completed the Auditory Behavior in Everyday Life (ABEL) questionnaire. RESULTS: TRIPS total scores were significantly higher in the NH group (p < .05). Mothers of children with HL had lower TRIPS scores than mothers of children with NH (p < .05). Similarly, lower TRIPS scores were found in the lower income group with HL (p < .05). A weak positive correlation was observed between TRIPS and both the ABEL total score (p < .05, r = .207) and ABEL auditory awareness score (p < .05, r = .204) in the hard of hearing group. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that caregivers of children with HL have less tolerance for risky play. Additionally, caregivers of children with better auditory skills were more tolerant of risky play. Therefore, it is suggested that caregivers of children using appropriate hearing devices should be informed that they do not need to be overly restrictive during play, and these children should be encouraged to engage in risky play.

Investigation of the relationship between hyperacusis and auditory processing difficulties in individuals with normal hearing.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hyperacusis and auditory processing (listening) difficulties (APDiff) in normal-hearing young adults and to explore the relationship between these two conditions. METHODS: A total of 333 participants aged 18-24 underwent pure-tone audiometry tests and completed the Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire (KHQ) and the University of Cincinnati Auditory Processing Inventory (UCAPI) online. RESULTS: Hyperacusis was identified in 26.43% of participants, and APDiff in 36.04%. A strong, positive correlation was found between KHQ and UCAPI scores (r = 0.603, p < 0.001). Logistic regression models indicated that hyperacusis significantly increased the likelihood of having APDiff (OR 7.688, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite the high prevalence of hyperacusis and APDiff in young adults, few seek help from audiology clinics. Our findings highlight a significant link between hyperacusis and APDiff, emphasizing the need for screening protocols for auditory processing skills in young adults due to these conditions' potential social and academic impacts.